Post by Keith on Aug 18, 2019 7:27:57 GMT -6

...and upon the earth distress of nations... (Luke 21:25b)

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8)

Post by Duck on Aug 19, 2019 6:48:07 GMT -6

Israeli Ambassador to Jordan Amir Weisbrod was called for a meeting at Jordan's Foreign Ministry office in Amman.

During the meeting, it was explained to him that Jordan condemns the Israeli activity at Al-Aqsa Mosque and on the Temple Mount, and demands the activity cease immediately. The conversation comes four days after the Jordan Foreign Ministry condemned "Israel's continued violations" against Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Post by Keith on Aug 19, 2019 6:51:55 GMT -6

Trump: Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan to be Released After Israeli Elections

JERUSALEM, Israel – President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will likely release his administration's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan after Israel's national elections on September 17.

"I probably will wait, but we may put out pieces of it. We have some very talented people – as you know, our great ambassador and others. We have some very talented people," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump added that there have been "decades of hate" between Israelis and Palestinians and "it is tough to make a deal when there is so much hate."

Post by Keith on Aug 19, 2019 6:52:27 GMT -6

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iranian tanker sailed through the Mediterranean toward Greece on Monday after it was released from detention off Gibraltar, and Tehran said that any at U.S. move to seize the vessel again would have “heavy consequences”.

The Grace 1, renamed the Adrian Darya 1, left anchorage off Gibraltar about 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Sunday. Refinitiv ship tracking data showed on Monday that the vessel was heading to Kalamata in Greece and was scheduled to arrive next Sunday at 0000 GMT.

The seizure of the tanker by British Royal Marines near Gibraltar in July 4 on suspicion of carrying oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions led to a weeks-long stand-off between Tehran and the West. It also heightened tensions on international oil shipping routes through the Gulf.

Post by Keith on Aug 19, 2019 6:53:19 GMT -6

Macron to discuss Brexit with PM Johnson on Thursday

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Aug. 22 to discuss Brexit as well as the crises in Iran and Syria, an official from Macron’s office said on Monday.

“The President of the Republic will host Boris Johnson for a working dinner at the Elysee Palace, which will be preceded by remarks to the press,” said the official.

Johnson is also scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday this week.

Post by Keith on Aug 19, 2019 6:53:59 GMT -6

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkey on Monday replaced Kurdish mayors with state officials in three cities and detained more than 400 people for suspected militant links, the Interior Ministry said, a move likely to fuel tensions in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

The ministry also said it had launched an operation with some 2,300 commandos against militant fighters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeastern provinces.

The mayors of three major southeastern cities - Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van - are accused of various crimes including membership of a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist group propaganda, the ministry said in a statement.

Post by Keith on Aug 19, 2019 6:55:10 GMT -6

DUBAI (Reuters) - The refusal of Yemeni southern separatists to hand back control of Aden port has delayed a summit in Saudi Arabia that is due to discuss reshuffling Yemen’s ousted government to include the separatists and end the stand-off, three Yemeni sources said.

Saudi Arabia called for the meeting after the separatist forces on Aug. 10 seized military camps and other state institutions in the southern port city, the temporary seat of the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Aden crisis has fractured the Sunni Muslim military coalition led by Riyadh that is battling the Iran-aligned Houthi group, which controls the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Meanwhile the Houthis have escalated cross-border attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:45:02 GMT -6

NYPD officer accused in Eric Garner's death has been fired, commissioner says

Daniel Pantaleo, the New York City police officer accused in the 2014 death of Eric Garner that sparked nationwide outrage, has been fired, Commissioner James O'Neill announced Monday afternoon -- spurring a furious response from the department's police union, which blasted the decision as caving to "anti-police extremists."

O'Neill, who said it was "an extremely difficult decision," said during a midday news conference that he made his final call in the "last couple of days" in the case that has spanned five years.

"None of us can take back our decisions," O'Neill told reporters, "especially when they lead to the death of another human being."

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:45:37 GMT -6

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Monday apologized again for her claims in the 1980s that she is Native American, speaking to a crowd of tribal leaders in Iowa.

“Like anyone who’s been honest with themselves, I know that I have made mistakes. I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together,” Warren said.

Warren spoke at the Native American Presidential Forum in Sioux City, Iowa, hosted by several tribes from across the country.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:46:54 GMT -6

CNN commentator to Republican guest: 'White men who think like you' are the 'greatest terrorist threat' in US

Liberal CNN commentator Angela Rye had a fiery exchange with a Republican strategist during a panel discussion Monday night, telling him that "white men who think like you" are the "greatest terrorist threat in this country."

The conversation began when GOP campaign veteran Patrick Griffin argued that President Trump should "play the lottery" since Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., brought new attention to their relationship with Isreal.

However, Rye appeared to take offense after Griffin claimed that the "Squad" has "hijacked" the Democratic Party from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “It’s so interesting that you use the term — the only two Muslim women in Congress, the term you chose to use, sir, is ‘hijacking,'” Rye said.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:47:34 GMT -6

Omar, Tlaib: US Should Cut Aid to Israel Until Palestinians Have 'Full Rights'

JERUSALEM, Israel - Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN) suggested Congress should cut aid to Israel after she and her colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI) were barred from entering the country due to their promotion of boycotts against the Jewish state.

"We in the United States have a constructive role to play," Omar said on Monday during a news conference with Tlaib in Minnesota. "We give Israel more than $3 billion in aid every year. This is predicated on them being an important ally in the region and the only democracy in the Middle East. But, denying a visit to duly elected members of Congress is not consistent with being an ally."

"We must be asking, as Israel's ally, that Netanyahu stop the expansion of settlements on Palestinian land and ensure full rights for Palestinians if we are to give them aid," Omar, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:50:27 GMT -6

After mock Trump assassination photos at liberal fundraiser, Scalise asks when the left will denounce its violence

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise asked what it would take for liberals to denounce violence against conservatives after a Democratic state senator from Illinois came under fire last weekend over pictures showing his supporters at a fundraising event taking part in a mock assassination of President Trump.

Photos posted by a woman who witnessed the mock assassination Friday night showed supporters of Sen. Martin Sandoval, who represents Illinois’ 11th District — including parts of Chicago — acting out in front of guests, according to WCIA.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:51:08 GMT -6

Hillary Clinton blasted President Trump for tweeting about what she described as a "debunked study" that suggests "millions" of voters in 2016 were manipulated in her favor by Google.

The latest war of words between the 2016 presidential rivals kicked off when Trump tweeted an unverified claim that the search engine giant "manipulated from 2.6 million to 16 million votes for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election."

"Report Just Out! Google manipulated from the 2.6 million to 16 million votes for Hillary Clinton in 2016 election! This was put out by a Clinton supporter, not a Trump Supporter! Google should be sued. My victory was even bigger than thought!" the president's full tweet read.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:51:49 GMT -6

US stoking tension after missile test that would have been banned under treaty, Russia says

A top Russian official on Tuesday said the U.S. is stoking tension after firing a ground-based version of a Tomahawk cruise missile that was previously barred under a Cold War-era agreement between the two sides that both accused the other of violating.

The Pentagon on Monday said the cruise missile, fired off the coast of California, hit its flying target 310 miles away.

Post by Keith on Aug 20, 2019 6:52:30 GMT -6

Iran tanker heads to Greece, U.S. warns against helping vessel

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iranian tanker at the center of an angry confrontation between Iran and Washington sailed for Greece on Monday after it was freed from detention off Gibraltar, as Washington called the release unfortunate and warned Greece and Mediterranean ports against helping the vessel.

Tehran said any U.S. move to seize the vessel again would have “heavy consequences”. While Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appeared to downplay the possibility of military conflict with Washington in an interview on U.S. television, he also indicated on a visit to Finland that Washington was seeking “more escalation”.

The Grace 1, renamed the Adrian Darya 1, left anchorage off Gibraltar about 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Sunday. Refinitiv ship tracking data showed on Monday that the vessel was heading to Kalamata in Greece and was scheduled to arrive next Sunday at 0000 GMT.